The map above shows the path for the Down East Circle Loop. It will be our most challenging trip to date because we must run with the currents, deal with 14-24 tides, fog, weather on open water, locks, and large ships on the St. Lawrence. So why are we doing it. We have heard that this is one of the most beautiful side trips of the Great Loop and should not be missed if at all possible. Because of the delays, we are about 2 weeks late getting started but we are still hoping we can make it all the way around and back here in the fall without rushing through. We have to take the long way to the St. Lawrence, through the Oswego canal and across the corner of Lake Ontario instead of up the Champlain Canal because we have an air draft that won't make it under the bridges of the Champlain.
Why the name Down East? The expression was coined in the 1800's by the navigators on square-rigged ships, in particular the clipper ships working the cargo trade between Europe and Australia.
The full expression was, "running the easting down" and it applied to the homeward bound, down wind run from the pacific. Ships loading grain in Adelaide, Australia had to make easting from roughly 140 degrees E to nearly 0 degrees at London, England, hence "running the easting down". After the era of fast clippers, large bulky square-riggers transported the cargo and they became known as Down Easters. Today the term refers to places situated east of New York and Boston. I'm nervously excited and will try and keep you posted on our adventure.
This is a new app on my phone that the Loopers use. It allows people to follow your travels and allows you to find where your Looper friends are.
Sunset from our starting point this summer for the DECL (Down East Circle Loop)
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